September 22, 2022

State delays public release of English, math and science test score results to later this year

Delaying the public release of Smarter Balanced tests taken last spring undermines the urgency of addressing setbacks in learning during the pandemic.

John Fensterwald And Thomas Peele

August 1, 2022

California could paint a clearer picture of English learner achievement if new bill passes

The bill would require the state to separate out test scores in English language arts, math and science for subgroups of English learners.

Zaidee Stavely

April 5, 2022

Student math scores touch off ‘five-alarm fire’ in California

The pandemic compounded the challenge of teaching math at grade level when many California students may be three or four years behind.

John Fensterwald

April 5, 2022

California’s detailed test data gives it an advantage for the road ahead

A deeper dive into the Smarter Balanced test data reveals that the news is both better and worse than we previously realized.

David Wakelyn

February 1, 2022

The late state Sen. Gary Hart's legacy looms large on California education

Former state Sen. Gary Hart, who died last week at 78, authored bills allowing charter schools in California, creating a statewide student assessment and a minimum school year.

John Fensterwald

January 27, 2022

CSU panel recommends eliminating the use of SAT and ACT exams for admission

CSU trustees signal their intent to join the huge wave of universities dropping SAT and ACT exam requirements for admission.

Ashley A. Smith

January 7, 2022

Standardized test scores in California fell during year in distance learning

Among the 24% of students who took the Smarter Balanced assessments in 2020-21, achievement gaps widened, and the youngest students struggled.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis

December 13, 2021

When 'making the grade' takes on new meaning

I knew this year would test my personal code of ethics about grades: Effort and improvement should supersede a grade.

Anne Vasquez

November 1, 2021

Now is the time for learner-centered, whole-child education

We must not allow our desire to return to “normal” and our conditioning to the status quo to pull us back to what was familiar before the pandemic.

Devin Vodicka, Kim Smith, Jen Holleran, and Jean-Claude Brizard

September 10, 2021

California will give a short version of its standardized math and English tests next spring

State Board agrees to cut as much as 2 hours from lengthy Smarter Balanced assessments; parents won't receive as many details as in past.

John Fensterwald

July 21, 2021

Tired of the same old student assessments? This fund wants to help

The Advanced Education Research & Development Fund is calling for project proposals on how assessment can be done better.

Sydney Johnson

May 4, 2021

Hundreds of thousands of California students won’t take statewide standardized tests this spring

California released updated guidance for school districts deciding whether Smarter Balanced or a local assessment is their more viable option.

Sydney Johnson

May 3, 2021

California state board likely to adopt long-awaited ‘student growth model’ to measure test scores

The new method of tracking individual students' Smarter Balanced scores should provide a more useful measure of schools' and districts' progress.

John Fensterwald

April 8, 2021

Local assessments an option if Smarter Balanced tests ‘not viable,’ U.S. education officials affirm

California state officials have not yet outlined in detail what conditions must exist for a district to select an alternative assessment.

Sydney Johnson

April 2, 2021

Local assessments an option if statewide tests aren't viable during pandemic, California officials signal

California’s plan would still offer Smarter Balanced assessments in math and English language arts, the California Science Test, as well as tests for English learners.

Sydney Johnson